James k



-. (No Model.)

. J. K. PUMPELLY.

SECONDARY BATTERY. Y No. 416,299. Patented 1360.3, 19889.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES K. PMPELLY, OF

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO FRANK D. THOM- ASON, OF SAME PLACE. V

SECON DARY BATTERY.

SPECIFICATION forming pert ef Lettere Patent No. 416,299, dated Decemberv s, i889.

Serial No. 318,964. (No model.)

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES K. PUMPELLY, of Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electric Batteries, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being vhad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon. e

Electric storage-batteries have heretofore used a liquid electrolyte, and one of the greatest objections urged against their use for illuminating or motor purposes on steam or street cars or on boats, Where there is so much jolting and unsteady motion, is that the electrolytic solution splashes so as to mate-` rially decrease the efficiency ofthe battery and injure the surrounding structure adjacent to the cells. zo The object of my invention is to avoid the possibility of splashing, to promote free electrolytic action, to prevent the accumulation of gases on the metal conductor-plates, and to increase the per cent. of converted ele'ctromotive force. I accomplish this by making a comparatively dry battery-that is, a battery which dispenses with the electrolytic solut-ion in a free liquid mass, substantially as herein fully described, and as illustrated in the drawing, which shows a. iigure of one of my improved batteries, taken in vertical longitudinal section.

Referring to the drawing, A represents a suitable cell of any desired shape or dimensions. B represents the positive electrode consisting of a suitablev number of metal conductor-plates a a ct a; and C represents the negative electrode consisting of a complementary s'et of metal conductor-plates b I) b b, which alternate with the plates of the positive electrode, as shown. The plates ct and b form a support for the active material, which constitutes an essential element of every electric storage or secondary battery.

After the batteries have been constructed and the relative positions of the electrodes obtained in the cells I fill said cell with what is known as cellulose, made from iiber, D, and pack the same under the plat-es and between the plates, so as to prevent the said f t plates from short-circuiting. v Vhen the cells are suitably iilled with cellulose made from iiber D, I saturate the same with the electrolytic solution, whereupon the battery is ready for charging and ydischarging in the usual manner. The reason I use cellulose made from ber, as above explained, is because, owing to its treatment with caustic lime and its subsequent thorough washing in water, it is per- V6o fectly inert and'unchangeable under the action of the electrolyte. Itis, moreover, very light and porous, and, while'promoting free electrolytic action, facilitates the escape of the gases generated, which do not accumulate upon the plates and thus decrease the surface exposed to the electrolyte.

It is not essential so far as my invention is concerned what the peculiar arrangement of the electrodes may be nor what the con- 7c struction of the conductor-plates is to enable them to support the active material. Any construction of a battery which substitutes saturated cellulose made from fiber either in the loose or compact form for an electrolytic liquid mass comes within the spirit of my invention whether the same is a primary or a secondary battery.

l. The combination, with an electric bat- 8o tery, of an electrolyte consisting of cellulose made from fiber saturated with electrolytic iiuid, as set forth.

2. The combination, with an electric battery and `a positive and negative electrode, of an electrolyte consisting of cellulose made from iiber packed around said electrodes and saturated with electrolytic iiuid, as set forth.

3. The combination, with an electric battery, a positive and a negative electrode, each 9o having facilities for supporting the active material, and said active material, of an electrolyte consisting of a cellulose made from ber packed around said electrodes and saturated with electrolytic fluid.

JAMES K. PUMPELLY. Witnesses:

FRANK D. THoMAsoN, FRANK H. GOIN. 

